Dalit youth killed inhumanely in Maharashtra over ringtone

Writing is her passion. She is an ex Reporter with a National Daily and holding an important position in an NGO. The
social and political writer is Post Graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication.

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Maharashtra: In an inhuman act, a Dalit youth was heartlessly attacked and murdered in Maharashtra, allegedly over his mobile having a ringtone on a tune on Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. Four attackers have been detained while four others are on the run. A nursing student Sagar Shejwal had come here to join a marriage ceremony.

On May 16, in the afternoon, Shejwal went to a native beer shop with two of his cousins. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Vivek Patil, Sagar was beaten by eight youths over his ringtone.

“Eight youths were sitting at a table at the shop. When Sagar’s mobile rang with the Ambedkar song as its ringtone, the youths told him to switch it off. In a police statement, the cousin has described the song as Tumhi kara re kitihi halla / Mazbut Bhimacha quilla [Shout all you want / Bhim’s fortress is strong]. An altercation ensued and the assailants hit Sagar with a beer bottle and started kicking and punching him.

Then they dragged him out, put him on a motorbike and took him away to a nearby forest. They crushed him under the bike. Sagar’s body was found around 6.30 p.m. in a naked state near Rui village. The cause of death was multiple fractures. The autopsy says Sagar sustained around 25 injuries. He died between 2 and 4 p.m,” said Patil. The offenders ran their bike repetitively over Sagar’s body until it got spoiled entirely.

Unable to understand the disgust of the assault, Sagar’s father Subhash Shejwal said, “I can understand that they hit him. Quarrels can happen anytime, but look at the brutality of the act. Why would they do this on such a trivial matter?”

The primary outbreak is seized in a long footage of CCTV camera at the beer shop, wherein the faces of the attackers are evidently apparent. It provides strong electronic evidence to the police. The shop is very close to the Shirdi police station. It is also raising questions about the police’s inaction.

“I called the police at 1.45 p.m. when the youths were beating up Sagar, but for a long time they did not come,” said Sandeep Ghorpade, manager of the beer shop. Sagar’s cousins, who succeeded to escape, also notified the police, but for nothing. According to family allegations, police on duty demanded an air-conditioned vehicle to hunt for Sagar.

“Only our relatives were looking for Sagar. No police vehicle was in sight. The body was also discovered by family members,” said complainant and Sagar’s cousin Satish Gaikwad.

The views expressed here are those of the authors and doesn’t reflect the official
policy of Janpratinidhi.
The views expressed here are those of the authors and doesn’t reflect the official
policy of Janpratinidhi.